If you are OVER 5'7", where have you got a good longish waterproof warm coat?

I realise this has been done before and there was some success last year in persuading companies that such a thing would sell.

However I've just had my usual utterly rage-inducing visit to my local (very good) outdoor shop, where I was told that a warm, waterproof coat that was also long was 'doing a different job to what we sell'. What, doing a different job to keeping people warm and dry? I was shown jackets that are a bit longer than sit-on-your-bum style, hillwalking jackets which are warm and dry but basically awful, etc. And the man wouldn't stop talking.

What's around this year, have you bought anything good, or are we still at the stage where yes there are a few coats that fit shorter people fine, sell out in a week, and we have to look to Denmark for imports?

If anyone from a likely company reads this, please let me be clear: I WILL PAY MONEY FOR A LONGLINE WATERPROOF WARM COAT THAT FITS ME AND LOOKS EVEN JUST OK but I cannot find one <sobs>

This was discussed on a thread that went on for a while, but to recap:

the only waterproof (not water resistant, min 2000 hydrostatic head) AND insulated AND long coats available in this country are:North Face Arctic Parka or BrooklynDidrikson Elly or Celeste (or Crystal but that's very thick and probably an overkill)Helly Hansen HT Hilton parka

Brilliant, thank you very much for summarising that for me. That is exactly the reply I needed.

The bit that does not compute for me is that the weather does not change if you're not walking on a hill. It's the same cold wet rain in the city, walking the kids to school, taking the dog out. I accept that I have to look like a shapeless sack and wear waterproof trousers when I'm focusing on hiking, but I want something better for when I'm just getting around town. I'm still going to get cold and wet. The technology exists to keep me warm and dry. It gives me the RAGE that I can't access it!

Last year I bought one of the Boden rainyday mac things, like this. It's not waterproof, but "showerproof". However, it took over half an hour of walking/standing in very heavy rain for it to start coming through, and even then only seams on the shoulders. As for length, I'm 6' and it covers my bum! I'm pretty impressed with it.

I know, it's so frustrating. Rain is rain isn't it. For lightweight around town waterproof I have the Bergans Egersund jacket, it comes down to mid thigh (I'm 5'9'') and has a dropped back. Arcteryx also has the Theta AR jacket which is a long gore tex jacket, and actually looks very stylish on (well as stylish as a waterproof can look).

I ordered this coat from seasalt which will hopefully arrive today. It is the closest I could find (and trust me I have looked *long and hard*) to what I needed ie knee lenth, warm and water proof.

During my quest I also bought the famed merrill wakefield but I am not delighted as I bought a "medium" which appears to be a size 10 (I am a 12) and it is v neat on me especially accross the butt which makes it shorter - the sleeves are a great length though) plus a northface metropolis parka which I do not rate at all as is not worth the money (I got it reduced but still) as it is not even remotely showerproof. If it rains the water sinks right through to the down which absorbs the water and soaks through to soak you. When I bought it it was advertised as "water resistent" which I belive they have now withdrawn - when I complained I was told it was for "dry cold conditions only

Will let you know how my new coat is when it arrives if you are interested?

water resistant is not the same as waterproof. A water resistant garment has a Durable Water Repellent coating, which all it does it makes water molecules 'roll off' the surface. So if you buy something that says water resistant and get soaked - it's because the coat is exactly that, water resistant. Water proof means it has a waterproof laminate, and a DWR on top of it, and inside either a lining, or a protective membrane. Much more technical construction, usually this is evident in the product specs.

Down jackets are not water proof, as a rule of thumb, so if you buy a down coat/jacket it's for dry days only. If down gets wet it collapses and stops working eventually. Synthetic insulation is less sensitive to rain and usually cheaper, but heavier and bulkier.

It's worth reading the specs if you are buying technical clothing, usually in the product information you can see what weather it's intended for.

I think Ladyword got the Wakefield last year (just remembered), and found that the shell fitted well, but the lining was a size smaller - so she altered it herself and put fleecy fabric in as well (she's my sewing hero). She's v tall and it looked great.

What the effing hell is the point of making a coat lining that's significantly smaller than the coat? [despair]

Interesting. I definitely learned from my (expensive) mistake with the north face parka I must say so I have been reading the specs very closely.

I niavely expected it to at least be wearable during the winter if you were perhaps caught in a shower but no, it is not in my opinion even water resistent - my £12 mac from sainsburys offers more protection from the rain!

Having had this bad experience I did email seasalt to ask if the coat I was about to order was actually rain proof and if it has taped seams (it does so fingers crossed).

The merrill wakefield I have is a very odd shape - well perhaps if I happened to be a couple of stone lighter it would fit perfectly. Am v impressed by the sewing skills of someone who can change a lining in a coat. I think my whole coat is too small - in hindsight I should have sent it back (or I can just try to lose a stone or two!)

Will report back when I receive my coat and let you - am hoping it will be ok as I exhausted from this search!

Unfortunately STILL not received it! It does say on their website 7-10 working days for delivery so they are not kidding.Will report back when it arrives which surely must be by next tuesday as I order it over a week ago.

Yes, I know it's not a hi-tech performance jacket in the outdoor gear nerd, camp-out-in-the-arctic kind of way, but it's waterproof for most normal purposes (I've done an 8-mile hike through the Peak District rain in one, and it didn't leak, not to mention countless school runs). It's light and warm but not bulky or thick. And it's long. I am 5' 11", and long is a very rare and fine thing for me.